Signal for motor vehicles



y 5, 1936- A. D. MILLER ET AL 2,039,604

SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 5, 1934 f! if IIIIM I Inventors AHarris};

Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE SIGNAL FOR, MOTOR-VEHIGLIES Aubrey D. Miller, Fort Wayne, and Erwin 0. Bade, Waynedale,End.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in the generalart of electrical signaling and more particularly to a direction signalfor motor vehicles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a directionsignal which will require a mere lifting of one hand or the other of thedriver to a position within one or the other of two beams of light so asto affect photo-electric cells in a manner transmitting the intention ofthe driver to turn to outside signal devices on the vehicle.

During the course of the following specification, other importantobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to thereader.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view disclosing the electricalconnections between the electrical devices involved.

7 Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view through the light sourcestructure.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen in Figure 1 that numeral 5 represents an electric bulbserving as a source of light while numerals 6-6 represent photo-electriccells located in containers 9, each provided with a tubular extension||l alined with a corresponding tubular extension On. protrudingdivergingly from the shell I l which houses the electric bulb 5. Thesecasings H and 9 are preferably provided with removable bottoms l2 sothat the cells 6 or bulb 5 can be replaced when desired. It ispreferable that the tubes Illa each contain a lens I3 for magnifying thelight being directed into the boxes 9 through the tubular extensionsIll.

By further referring to Figure 1, it can be observed that numeral |6represents the right signal light bulb, while numeral |9 represents theturn" light bulb. The left signal lamp 2| is also provided.

Numeral 23 represents the magnet for the left photo-electric cell 8while numeral 24 represents the magnet for the right photo-electric cell6. A

conductor 25 connects one side of the cell 8 with one side of the magnet23, while the other side of the magnet 23 is connected by the conductor26 to one side of the battery 21. This side of the battery is connectedby way of the lead 28 to one side of the coil 24, while the other sideof the 001124 is connected by the jumper 29 to one side of the cell 6,the other side of the cell 6 having its return by way of the wire 30 tothe battery .1 as the other side of the cell 8 by way of the jumper 3|.

' side of the lamp 5 being connected by the wire 38 to the return wire39. A spring 40 normally serves to pull the armatures 34-36 away fromthe magnets 23-24 respectively, and will do this when one or the otherof the magnets becomes sufliciently de-energized, i

Located within thepath of the armature 36 is the contact 4| and also thecontact 42, while located within the path of the armature 34 is thecontact 43 and also the contact M. From the contact 42, a conductor 45extends to the turn" bulb I9 and also by way of a branch wire 46 to thecontact 44 adjacent the magnet 23.

A conductor 4? extends from the contact 4| to the right bulb I6 and theother side of this bulb is connected to the return wire 39. A conductor48 extends from the contact 43 adjacent the armature 34 to the bulb 2|,the return side of the bulb 2| being connected by the'conductor 49 tothe return wire 39. A buzzer 50 is connected between the conductor 45and the return wire 49 for the bulb 4i i.

It can now be seen that when the driver. lifts a hand into the lightbeam 5| so that less light reaches the photo-electric cell 6, theresistance set 30 up in the circuit including the magnet 24 in thephoto-electric cell 6 will be sufllcient to deenergize the coil 24 so asto release the armature 36 and permit it to bridge the contacts 4| and42. Current will now flow from the battery 32 by way of the wire 35 andarmature 36" to the conductors 45 and M, thus energizing the turn lightl9 and the right signal light It. As soon as the driver removes his handfrom the path of the beam 5| or from the path of the beam 52, thecorresponding circuit will be restored and the corresponding light willbecome extinguished.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood 45 that numerous changes in the shape,size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a vehicle, a signal thereon, photo-electric controlmeans forv the said signal, a source of light situated on said vehicleso as to throw a beam of light upon the photo-electric element 01' saidmeans to keep said signal inoperative, the path of said beam being inthe vicinity of the operator of the vehicle whereby it may be blockedoil by the operator who operates the signal.

2.*In combination, a vehicle, a signal on said vehicle, photo-electriccontrol means for said signal, said photo-electric control meansincluding a source of light situated on said vehicle so as to throwbeams of light upon the said photo-electric cells so as to normally keepsaid signal light inoperative, the path of said beams being in thevicinity of the operator of the vehicle whereby same may be blocked oi!selectively by the operator to operate one or the other of the saidsignal lights. 1 AUBREY D. MILLER.

ERVIN 0. BABE.

